curcumin and Brain-Edema

For thousands of years, mankind has been using plant extracts or plants themselves as medicinal herbs. Currently, there is a great deal of public interest in naturally occurring medicinal substances that are virtually non-toxic, readily available, and have an impact on well-being and health. It has been noted that dietary curcumin is one of the regulators that may positively influence changes in the brain after ischemia. Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic compound with pleiotropic biological properties. The observed death of pyramidal neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and its atrophy are considered to be typical changes for post-ischemic brain neurodegeneration and for Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, it has been shown that one of the potential mechanisms of severe neuronal death is the accumulation of neurotoxic amyloid and dysfunctional tau protein after cerebral ischemia. Post-ischemic studies of human and animal brains have shown the presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The significant therapeutic feature of curcumin is that it can affect the aging-related cellular proteins, i.e., amyloid and tau protein, preventing their aggregation and insolubility after ischemia. Curcumin also decreases the neurotoxicity of amyloid and tau protein by affecting their structure. Studies in animal models of cerebral ischemia have shown that curcumin reduces infarct volume, brain edema, blood-brain barrier permeability, apoptosis, neuroinflammation, glutamate neurotoxicity, inhibits autophagy and oxidative stress, and improves neurological and behavioral deficits. The available data suggest that curcumin may be a new therapeutic substance in both regenerative medicine and the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as post-ischemic neurodegeneration.

Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Amyloid; Animals; Apoptosis; Atrophy; Biological Availability; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain Edema; Brain Ischemia; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gerbillinae; Hippocampus; Humans; Mice; Neuroinflammatory Diseases; Neuroprotective Agents; Oxidative Stress; Rats; tau Proteins

Topics: Altitude Sickness; Animals; Brain Edema; Cell Hypoxia; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Inflammation; Male; Mice; NF-kappa B; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress after traumatic brain injury (TBI) can further lead to neuronal apoptosis, which plays a crucial role in the process of neuron death. Curcumin, which is derived from the rhizome of the Curcuma longa plant, has multiple pharmacological effects.. The objective of this study was to investigate whether curcumin treatment has neuroprotective effects after TBI, and to elucidate the underlying mechanism.. A total of 124 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: Sham group, TBI group, TBI+Vehicle group, and TBI+Curcumin group. The TBI mice model used in this study was constructed with TBI device induced by compressed gas, and 50 mg/kg curcumin was injected intraperitoneally 15 minutes after TBI. Then, the blood-brain barrier permeability, cerebral edema, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis-related protein, and behavioral tests of neurological function were utilized to evaluate the protective effect of curcumin after TBI.. Curcumin treatment markedly alleviated post-trauma cerebral edema and blood-brain barrier integrity, and suppressed neuronal apoptosis, reduced mitochondrial injury and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Moreover, curcumin also attenuates TBI-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress in brain tissue and improves cognitive dysfunction after TBI.. These data provide substantial evidence that curcumin has neuroprotective effects in animal TBI models, possibly through the inhibition of inflammatory response and oxidative stress.

Topics: Animals; Brain Edema; Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Mice; Neuroinflammatory Diseases; Neuroprotective Agents; Oxidative Stress

Topics: Animals; Brain Edema; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Curcumin; Dopamine; Methamphetamine; Nanoparticle Drug Delivery System; Nanowires; Neuroprotective Agents; Rats

Despite a great amount of effort, there is still a need for reliable treatments of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Recently, stem cell therapy has emerged as a new avenue to address neuronal regeneration after TBI. However, the environment of TBI lesions exerts negative effects on the stem cells efficacy. Therefore, to maximize the beneficial effects of stem cells in the course of TBI, we evaluated the effect of human neural stem/progenitor cells (hNS/PCs) and curcumin-loaded niosome nanoparticles (CM-NPs) on behavioral changes, brain edema, gliosis, and inflammatory responses in a rat model of TBI. After TBI, hNS/PCs were transplanted within the injury site and CM-NPs were orally administered for 10 days. Finally, the effect of combination therapy was compared to several control groups. Our results indicated a significant improvement of general locomotor activity in the hNS/PCs + CM-NPs treatment group compared to the control groups. We also observed a significant improvement in brain edema in the hNS/PCs + CM-NPs treatment group compared to the other groups. Furthermore, a significant decrease in astrogliosis was seen in the combined treatment group. Moreover, TLR4-, NF-κB-, and TNF-α- positive cells were significantly decreased in hNS/PCs + CM-NPs group compared to the control groups. Taken together, this study indicated that combination therapy of stem cells with CM-NPs can be an effective therapy for TBI.

Topics: Animals; Brain Edema; Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Gliosis; Nanoparticles; Neural Stem Cells; Rats

Topics: Apoptosis; Brain Edema; Brain Injuries; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Curcumin; Humans; Janus Kinase 1; Neuroinflammatory Diseases; Neurons; STAT1 Transcription Factor

Oxidative stress is a well-known risk factor for the development of anxiety and depression disorders. Curcumin, a natural compound, is an antioxidant with well-known neuroprotective functions. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the putative anxiolytic and antidepressant-like properties of curcumin, and its protective effects on blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction and brain edema in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged rats, and the potential involvement of antioxidant properties of curcumin pretreatment. For this purpose, rats received 50 mg/kg of curcumin (gavage, 14 consecutive days) or saline prior to intraperitoneal administration of LPS. Subsequently, animals were submitted to the elevated plus maze (EPM), open field tests (OFT), and forced swimming test (FST), 24 h after LPS administration. Furthermore, BBB permeability and brain water contents were assessed in the brain tissue. Hence, GPX and SOD enzyme activity and MDA concentration were determined in the brain tissue using ELISA assay. Our results showed that curcumin significantly reduced LPS-induced anxiety-like behavior in EPM and OFT, increased exploratory activity, but without significant change in the locomotor activity. Pretreatment with curcumin attenuate LPS-induced BBB permeability and brain water content. Our biochemical assays showed that curcumin significantly increased the activity of SOD and GPX enzymes, as well as reduced MDA concentration in the brain tissue after LPS administration. Together, these results suggest that pretreatment with curcumin might mitigate LPS- induced anxiety and depressive-like behaviors, and attenuate brain edema and BBB permeability, possibly by its antioxidant properties.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Anxiety; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain Edema; Curcumin; Depression; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Superoxide Dismutase; Water

Germacrone (GM) is a terpenoid compound which is reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. However, its role in treating traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains largely unknown.. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into the following groups: control group, TBI group [controlled cortical impact (CCI) model], CCI + 5 mg/kg GM group, CCI + 10 mg/kg GM group and CCI + 20 mg/kg GM group. GM was administered via intraperitoneal injection. The neurological functions (including motor coordination, spatial learning and memory abilities) and brain edema were measured. Nissl staining was used to detect the neuronal apoptosis. Colorimetric assays and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to determine the expression levels of oxidative stress markers including myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as the expressions of inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Additionally, protein levels of Nrf2 and p-p65 were detected by Western blot assay.. GM significantly ameliorated motor dysfunction, spatial learning and memory deficits of the mice induced by TBI and it also reduced neuronal apoptosis and microglial activation in a dose-dependent manner. Besides, GM treatment reduced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress compared to those in the CCI group in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, GM up-regulated the expression of antioxidant protein Nrf2 and inhibited the expression of inflammatory response protein p-p65.. GM is a promising drug to improve the functional recovery after TBI via repressing neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.

Topics: Animals; Brain; Brain Edema; Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Curcuma; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Male; Memory; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Microglia; Nervous System Diseases; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; NF-kappa B; Oxidative Stress; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Recovery of Function; Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane; Spatial Learning

Hexahydrocurcumin (HHC), a major metabolite of curcumin, has been reported to have protective effects against ischemic and reperfusion damage. The goal of the present research was to examine whether HHC could alleviate brain damage and ameliorate functional outcomes by diminishing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage that follows cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.. Middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced for 2 h in rats followed by reperfusion. The rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated, vehicle-treated, and HHC-treated groups. At the onset of reperfusion, the rats were immediately intraperitoneally injected with 40 mg/kg HHC. At 48 h after reperfusion, the rats were evaluated for neurological deficits and TTC staining. At 24 h and 48 h after reperfusion, animals were sacrificed, and their brains were extracted.. Treatment with HHC reduced neurological scores, infarct volume, morphological changes, Evans blue leakage and immunoglobulin G extravasation. Moreover, HHC treatment reduced BBB damage and neutrophil infiltration, downregulated myeloperoxidase, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1, upregulated tight junction proteins (TJPs), and reduced aquaporin 4 expression and brain water content.. These results revealed that HHC treatment preserved the BBB from cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by regulating TJPs, attenuating neutrophil infiltration, and reducing brain edema formation.

Topics: Animals; Aquaporin 4; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain; Brain Edema; Brain Ischemia; Curcumin; Infarction; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; Male; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reperfusion Injury; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein

Topics: Animals; Aquaporin 4; Astrocytes; Brain; Brain Edema; Brain Injuries; Chronic Disease; Corticosterone; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Gliosis; Hypoxia; Male; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Neurons; Neuroprotective Agents; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Random Allocation; Signal Transduction

The present study was carried out to understand the therapeutic effect of curcumin (CUR) against stroke in the experimental animal model. The study investigates the healing effect of CUR on mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation.. Male albino, Wistar strain rats were used for the induction of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and reperfusion. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for the determination of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the brain region. Western blot analysis was used to determine the protein expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, p53, and Sirt1.. The water level was determined in brain region by using standard method. Experimental results indicated that the use of CUR significantly reduced brain edema and water content. IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly reduced in the brain region following use of CUR. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) also reduced significantly after CUR treatment. Protein expression of p53 and Bax were significantly reduced, whereas Bcl-2 and Sirt1 were increased following CUR treatment.. Taking all these data together, it is suggested that the use of CUR may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of stroke.

Topics: Animals; Brain Edema; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Gene Expression Regulation; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; Inflammation; Interleukin-6; Male; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Mitochondria; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Stroke; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Prolonged hydrocephalus is a major cause of severe disability and death of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) patients. However, the therapeutic options to minimize the detrimental effects of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus are limited. Curcumin has been reported to confer neuroprotective effects in numerous neurological diseases and injuries, but its role in IVH-induced hydrocephalus has not been determined. The aim of present study was to determine whether curcumin treatment ameliorates blood brain barrier (BBB) damage and reduces the incidence of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus in IVH rat model. Autologous blood intraventricular injection was used to establish the IVH model. Our results revealed that repeated intraperitoneal injection of curcumin ameliorated IVH-induced learning and memory deficits as determined by Morris water maze and reduced the incidence of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus in a dose-dependent manner at 28 d post-IVH induction. Further, the increased BBB permeability and brain edema induced by IVH were significantly reduced by curcumin administration. In summary, these findings highlighted the important role of curcumin in improving neurological function deficits and protecting against BBB disruption via promoting the neurovascular unit restoration, and thus it reduced the severity of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus in the long term. It is believed that curcumin might prove to be an effective therapeutic component in prevent the post-IVH hydrocephalus in the near future.

Topics: Animals; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain Edema; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Cerebral Ventricles; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Hydrocephalus; Injections, Intraventricular; Male; Neuroprotective Agents; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Early brain injury, one of the most important mechanisms underlying subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), comprises edema formation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. Curcumin, an active extract from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, alleviates neuroinflammation by as yet unknown neuroprotective mechanisms. In this study, we examined whether curcumin treatment ameliorates SAH-induced brain edema and BBB permeability changes, as well as the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.. We induced SAH in mice via endovascular perforation, administered curcumin 15 min after surgery and evaluated neurologic scores, brain water content, Evans blue extravasation, Western blot assay results, and immunohistochemical analysis results 24 h after surgery.. Curcumin significantly improved neurologic scores and reduced brain water content in treated mice compared with SAH mice. Furthermore, curcumin decreased Evans blue extravasation, matrix metallopeptidase-9 expression, and the number of Iba-1-positive microglia in treated mice compared with SAH mice. At last, curcumin treatment increased the expression of the tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1 and occludin in treated mice compared with vehicle-treated and sample SAH mice.. We demonstrated that curcumin inhibits microglial activation and matrix metallopeptidase-9 expression, thereby reducing brain edema and attenuating post-SAH BBB disruption in mice.

Topics: Animals; Biomarkers; Blood-Brain Barrier; Blotting, Western; Brain Edema; Curcumin; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neuroprotective Agents; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; Treatment Outcome

The effects of curcumin (CCM) on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether CCM attenuates inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and whether Sirt1 is involved in these potential protective effects. Sirtinol, a Sirt1 inhibitor, was used to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Rats were subjected to 2h of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), followed by reperfusion for 24h. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to detect infarct volumes. Neurological scores and brain water content were also assessed. Levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the brain were detected using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Expression of SIRT1, acetylated p53 (Ac-p53), Bcl-2, and Bax was measured by western blotting. Our results suggested that CCM exerted a neuroprotective effect, as shown by reduced infarct volumes and brain edema and improved neurological scores. CCM also exerted anti-inflammatory effects, as indicated by decreased TNF-α and IL-6 levels in the brain. CCM elevated mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial complex I activity, and mitochondrial cytochrome c levels, but reduced cytosolic cytochrome c levels. Moreover, CCM upregulated SIRT1 and Bcl-2 expression and downregulated Ac-p53 and Bax expression. These effects of CCM were abolished by sirtinol. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that CCM treatment attenuates ischemic stroke-induced brain injury via activation of SIRT1.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Brain Edema; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Administration Schedule; Gene Expression Regulation; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; Inflammation; Male; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Mitochondrial Diseases; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reactive Oxygen Species; Reperfusion Injury; Signal Transduction; Sirtuin 1

Oxidation, inflammation, and apoptosis are three critical factors for the pathogenic mechanism of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Curcumin exhibits substantial biological properties via anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and anti-apoptotic effects; however, the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of curcumin against cerebral I/R injury remains unclear.. To investigate the effects of curcumin on cerebral I/R injury associated with water content, infarction volume, and the expression of nuclear factor-kappa-B (NF-κB) and nuclear factor-erythroid-related factor-2 (Nrf2).. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO, 1-hour occlusion and 24-hour reperfusion) was performed in male Wistar rats (n=64) as a cerebral I/R injury model. In the MCAO+CUR group, the rats were administered curcumin (300mg/kg BW, i.p.) at 30min after occlusion. The same surgical procedures were performed in SHAM rats without MCAO occlusion. At 24h post-operation, the parameters, including neurological deficit scores, blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption, water content, and infarction volume, were determined. Brain tissue NF-κB and Nrf2 expression levels were assayed through immunohistochemistry.. Compared with the SHAM group, BBB disruption, neurological deficit, and increased brain water content and infarction volume were markedly demonstrated in the MCAO group. NF-κB expression was enhanced in the MCAO group. However, in the MCAO+CUR group, the upregulation of Nrf2, an anti-oxidation related protein, was consistent with a significant decline in the water content, infarction volume, and NF-κB expression.. The protective effects of curcumin against cerebral I/R injury reflect anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and anti-apoptotic activities, resulting in the elevation of Nrf2 and down-regulation of NF-κB.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain Edema; Capillary Permeability; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Down-Regulation; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; Male; Motor Activity; Neuroprotective Agents; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Oxidative Stress; Rats, Wistar; Reperfusion Injury; Signal Transduction; Time Factors; Transcription Factor RelA; Up-Regulation

T lymphocytes contribute to inflammation, thereby exacerbating neuronal injury after cerebral ischemia. An increasing amount of evidence indicates that inflammation is a key contributor to intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH)-induced secondary brain injury. Curcumin, a low-molecular-weight curry spice that is derived from the Curcuma longa plant, suppresses T lymphocyte proliferation and migration. Based on these findings, we investigated whether treatment with curcumin would reduce the number of cerebral T lymphocytes in mice with experimentally induced ICH. We found that a large number of T lymphocytes infiltrated the brain at 3days post-ICH. Curcumin significantly improved neurological scores and reduced brain edema in mice with ICH, consistent with a role in reducing neuroinflammation and neurovascular injury. Using flow cytometry, we observed significantly fewer T lymphocytes in brain samples obtained from the curcumin-treated group than in samples obtained from the vehicle-treated group. Moreover, Western blot analysis and immunostaining indicated that treatment with curcumin significantly reduced the expression of a vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), interferon-γ (INF-γ) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) in the mouse brain at 72h post-ICH. Our results suggest that administering curcumin may alleviate cerebral inflammation resulting from ICH, at least in part by reducing the infiltration of T lymphocytes into the brain. Therefore, preventing T lymphocytes from infiltrating the brain may become a new strategy for treating clinical ICH.

Topics: Animals; Brain; Brain Edema; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Curcumin; Encephalitis; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-17; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; T-Lymphocytes; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

Curcumin, extracted from South Asian spice turmeric, has been determined to have the promising ability in antioxidation and anti-inflammation. However, the effect of curcumin on treating brain damage has been not reported. In this article, the aim was to evaluate the effect of curcumin on cell apoptosis in rats exposed to hypoxia-hypercapnia and explore the therapeutic potential of curcumin in hypoxia-hypercapnia brain damage (HHBD). Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups: control group, hypoxia-hypercapnia group and curcumin group. The Fas/FasL expressions in HHBD rats treated by curcumin were measured by immunohistochemical staining and western blotting. The pathological changes of brain cells were observed by transmission electron microscope. Rats with HHBD showed significant increase of Fas/FasL expression and ultrastructural changes in brain tissue cells. Curcumin intervention effectively reversed the Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis and HHBD-induced brain edema. Curcumin may be a potential therapeutic alternative for HHBD.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Apoptosis; Brain Edema; Brain Injuries; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Fas Ligand Protein; fas Receptor; Gene Expression Regulation; Hypercapnia; Hypoxia; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The present study was proposed to elucidate the prophylactic role of curcumin in the prevention of hypoxia-induced cerebral edema (HACE).. Rats were exposed to simulated hypobaric hypoxia at 7620 m for 24 h at 25 ± 1 °C. Transvascular leakage, expression of transcriptional factors (nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (Hif-1α) and also the genes regulated by these transcriptional factors, sodium potassium-adenosine triphosphatase (Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase) and endothelial sodium channel (ENaC) levels and brain tight junction (TJ) proteins like ZO-1, junctional adhesion molecule C (JAMC), claudin 4 and claudin 5 levels were determined in the brain of rats under hypoxia by Western blotting, electro mobility shift assay, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and histopathology along with haematological parameters. Simultaneously, to rule out the fact that inflammation causes impaired Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and ENaC functions and disturbing the TJ integrity leading to cerebral edema, the rats were pre-treated with curcumin (100 mg/kg body weight) 1 h prior to 24-h hypoxia.. Curcumin administration to rats, under hypoxia showed a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in brain water content (3.53 ± 0.58 wet-to-dry-weight (W/D) ratio) and transvascular leakage (136.2 ± 13.24 relative fluorescence units per gram (r.f.u./g)) in the brain of rats compared to control (24-h hypoxia) (7.1 ± 1.0 W/D ratio and 262.42 ± 24.67 r.f.u./g, respectively). Curcumin prophylaxis significantly attenuated the upregulation of NF-κB (p < 0.001), thereby leading to concomitant downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (↓IL-1, IL-2, IL-18 and TNF-α), cell adhesion molecules (↓P-selectin and E-selectin) and increased anti-inflammatory cytokine (↑IL-10). Curcumin stabilized the brain HIF-1α levels followed by maintaining VEGF levels along with upregulated Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and ENaC levels (p < 0.001) under hypoxia. Curcumin restored the brain ZO-1, JAMC, claudin 4 and claudin 5 levels (p < 0.001) under hypoxia. Histopathological observations revealed the absence of edema and inflammation in the brain of rats supplemented with curcumin.. These results indicate that curcumin is a potent drug in amelioration of HACE as it effectively attenuated inflammation as well as fluid influx by maintaining the tight junction proteins integrity with increased ion channels expression in the brain of rats under hypoxia.

Topics: Animals; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain; Brain Edema; Curcumin; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Epithelial Sodium Channels; Hypoxia; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Incidence; Ion Channels; Male; NF-kappa B; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; Tight Junction Proteins; Transcription Factors

Aquaporins (AQPs) are the water-channels that play important roles in brain water homeostasis and in cerebral edema induced by brain injury. In this study we investigated the relationship between AQPs and a neuroprotective agent curcumin that was effective in the treatment of brain edema in mice with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).. ICH was induced in mice by autologous blood infusion. The mice immediately received curcumin (75, 150, 300 mg/kg, ip). The Rotarod test scores, brain water content and brain expression of AQPs were measured post ICH. Cultured primary mouse astrocytes were used for in vitro experiments. The expression of AQP1, AQP4 and AQP9 and NF-κB p65 were detected using Western blotting or immunochemistry staining.. Curcumin administration dose-dependently reduced the cerebral edema at d 3 post ICH, and significantly attenuated the neurological deficits at d 5 post ICH. Furthermore, curcumin dose-dependently decreased the gene and protein expression of AQP4 and AQP9, but not AQP1 post ICH. Treatment of the cultured astrocytes with Fe(2+) (10-100 μmol/L) dose-dependently increased the expression and nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 and the expression of AQP4 and AQP9, which were partly blocked by co-treatment with curcumin (20 μmol/L) or the NF-κB inhibitor PDTC (10 μmol/L).. Curcumin effectively attenuates brain edema in mice with ICH through inhibition of the NF-κB pathway and subsequently the expression of AQP4 and AQP9. Curcumin may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for ICH.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Aquaporin 4; Aquaporins; Astrocytes; Brain; Brain Edema; Cells, Cultured; Curcumin; Down-Regulation; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; NF-kappa B

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) initiates a neuroinflammatory cascade that contributes to substantial neuronal damage and behavioral impairment, and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is an important mediator of thiscascade. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that curcumin, a phytochemical compound with potent anti-inflammatory properties that is extracted from the rhizome Curcuma longa, alleviates acute inflammatory injury mediated by TLR4 following TBI.. Neurological function, brain water content and cytokine levels were tested in TLR4⁻/⁻ mice subjected to weight-drop contusion injury. Wild-type (WT) mice were injected intraperitoneally with different concentrations of curcumin or vehicle 15 minutes after TBI. At 24 hours post-injury, the activation of microglia/macrophages and TLR4 was detected by immunohistochemistry; neuronal apoptosis was measured by FJB and TUNEL staining; cytokines were assayed by ELISA; and TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB levels were measured by Western blotting. In vitro, a co-culture system comprised of microglia and neurons was treated with curcumin following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. TLR4 expression and morphological activation in microglia and morphological damage to neurons were detected by immunohistochemistry 24 hours post-stimulation.. The protein expression of TLR4 in pericontusional tissue reached a maximum at 24 hours post-TBI. Compared with WT mice, TLR4⁻/⁻ mice showed attenuated functional impairment, brain edema and cytokine release post-TBI. In addition to improvement in the above aspects, 100 mg/kg curcumin treatment post-TBI significantly reduced the number of TLR4-positive microglia/macrophages as well as inflammatory mediator release and neuronal apoptosis in WT mice. Furthermore, Western blot analysis indicated that the levels of TLR4 and its known downstream effectors (MyD88, and NF-κB) were also decreased after curcumin treatment. Similar outcomes were observed in the microglia and neuron co-culture following treatment with curcumin after LPS stimulation. LPS increased TLR4 immunoreactivity and morphological activation in microglia and increased neuronal apoptosis, whereas curcumin normalized this upregulation. The increased protein levels of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB in microglia were attenuated by curcumin treatment.. Our results suggest that post-injury, curcumin administration may improve patient outcome by reducing acute activation of microglia/macrophages and neuronal apoptosis through a mechanism involving the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in microglia/macrophages in TBI.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Brain Edema; Brain Injuries; Cells, Cultured; Cerebral Cortex; Coculture Techniques; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Down-Regulation; Embryo, Mammalian; Encephalitis; Female; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88; Signal Transduction; Time Factors; Toll-Like Receptor 4

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Acute hematoma enlargement is an important predictor of neurological injury and poor clinical prognosis; but neurosurgical clot evacuation may not be feasible in all patients and treatment options remain largely supportive. Thus, novel therapeutic approaches to promote hematoma resolution are needed. In the present study, the authors investigated whether the curry spice curcumin limited neurovascular injury following ICH in mice.. Intracerebral hemorrhage was induced in adult male CD-1 mice by intracerebral administration of collagenase or autologous blood. Clinically relevant doses of curcumin (75-300 mg/kg) were administered up to 6 hours after ICH, and hematoma volume, inflammatory gene expression, blood-brain barrier permeability, and brain edema were assessed over the first 72 hours. Neurological assessments were performed to correlate neurovascular protection with functional outcomes.. Curcumin increased hematoma resolution at 72 hours post-ICH. This effect was associated with a significant reduction in the expression of the proinflammatory mediators, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β. Curcumin also reduced disruption of the blood-brain barrier and attenuated the formation of vasogenic edema following ICH. Consistent with the reduction in neuroinflammation and neurovascular injury, curcumin significantly improved neurological outcome scores after ICH.. Curcumin promoted hematoma resolution and limited neurological injury following ICH. These data may indicate clinical utility for curcumin as an adjunct therapy to reduce brain injury and improve patient outcome.

Topics: Animals; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain Edema; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hematoma; Interleukin-1beta; Interleukin-6; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Traumatic brain injury is a devastating neurological injury associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Medical therapies to limit cerebral edema, a cause of increased intracranial hypertension and poor clinical outcome, are largely ineffective, emphasizing the need for novel therapeutic approaches. In the present study, pre-treatment with curcumin (75, 150 mg/kg) or 30 min post-treatment with 300 mg/kg significantly reduced brain water content and improved neurological outcome following a moderate controlled cortical impact in mice. The protective effect of curcumin was associated with a significant attenuation in the acute pericontusional expression of interleukin-1beta, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, after injury. Curcumin also reversed the induction of aquaporin-4, an astrocytic water channel implicated in the development of cellular edema following head trauma. Notably, curcumin blocked IL-1beta-induced aquaporin-4 expression in cultured astrocytes, an effect mediated, at least in part, by reduced activation of the p50 and p65 subunits of nuclear factor kappaB. Consistent with this notion, curcumin preferentially attenuated phosphorylated p65 immunoreactivity in pericontusional astrocytes and decreased the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, a reactive astrocyte marker. As a whole, these data suggest clinically achievable concentrations of curcumin reduce glial activation and cerebral edema following neurotrauma, a finding which warrants further investigation.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Aquaporin 4; Blotting, Western; Brain Edema; Brain Injuries; Cells, Cultured; Curcumin; Immunohistochemistry; Interleukin-1beta; Learning; Male; Memory; Mice; Microscopy, Confocal; NF-kappa B; Recognition, Psychology; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Signal Transduction

Oxidative and cytotoxic damage plays an important role in cerebral ischemic pathogenesis and may represent a target for treatment. Curcumin is proved to elicit a vanity of biological effects through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. But the mechanisms underlying are poorly understood. The transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) coordinates expression of genes required for free radical scavenging, detoxification of xenobiotics, and maintenance of redox potential. This study evaluated the time course expression regularity of Nrf2, HO-1 and the curcumin's role in cerebral ischemia and its potential mechanism.. Male, Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to permanent focal cerebral ischemia by right MCA occlusion. Experiment 1 was used to evaluate the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the cerebral ischemia, 6 time points was included. Experiment 2 was used to detect curcumin's neuroprotection in cerebral ischemia. At 24 h neurological deficit was evaluated using a modified six point scale; brain water content was measured; infarct size was analysed with 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). Immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, Western blot, and confocal microscope were used to analyse the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1.. Compared with sham-operated, Nrf2 and HO-1 were upregulated at gene and protein level in ischemic brain, beginning at 3 h and peaking at 24 h after MCAO (P<0.05). Curcumin high dose (100 mg/kg) upregulated Nrf2 and HO-1 in MCAO-affected brain tissue and reduced infarct volume (P<0.05), brain water content (P<0.05) and behavioral deficits (P<0.05) caused by MCAO.. Nrf2 and HO-1 were induced at the early stage after MCAO. Curcumin protected the brain from damage caused by MCAO, this effect may be through upregulation of the transcription factor Nrf2 expression. Nrf2 may be one of the strategic targets for cerebral ischemic therapies.

Topics: Animals; Brain; Brain Edema; Brain Infarction; Brain Ischemia; Curcumin; Cytoprotection; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme Inhibitors; Gene Expression Regulation; Heme Oxygenase-1; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; Male; Neuroprotective Agents; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; RNA, Messenger; Time Factors; Up-Regulation

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), an active ingredient of turmeric, obtained from the powdered rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linn., has been traditionally recognized for treatment of several diseases. To evaluate the potential clinical use of curcumin, we determined the dose dependence of its effects in the therapeutic window and of the neuroprotective efficacy in a cerebral thromboembolic model of the rat. Rats were subjected to occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAo) by a thrombus and treated with different doses of curcumin or the vehicle at 4h after ischemia. The animals were assessed after 24h for motor performance and neurological deficit. The rats were sacrificed immediately afterwards for evaluation of infarct, edema volume, estimation of nitrate and nitrite levels, neutrophil infiltration and levels of GSH and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in brain tissue. Curcumin reduced in a dose-dependent manner the ischemia-induced cerebral infarct and edema volume and attenuated neurological deficits observed after 24h. Curcumin reduced post-ischemic brain neutrophil infiltration, nitrate and nitrite levels and ameliorated the loss of GSH-Px and tends to increase the GSH levels but not significantly in the brain tissue. Neuronal levels of reactive oxygen species, peroxynitrite, and nitric oxide were lowered and in brain cryosections inducible nitric oxide synthase expression were significantly inhibited after treatment with curcumin. The present study is the first evidence of effectiveness of curcumin when given 4h post-ischemia in the rat thromboembolic stroke models, as it reduces infarct volume, ameliorates the sensory motor function and significantly attenuated the nitrosative stress.

Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Brain Edema; Brain Ischemia; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Glutathione Peroxidase; Immunohistochemistry; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; Male; Motor Activity; Neuroprotective Agents; Nitrates; Nitric Oxide; Nitrites; Peroxidase; Peroxynitrous Acid; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reperfusion Injury; Treatment Outcome

Curcumin, a member of the curcuminoid family of compounds, is a yellow colored phenolic pigment obtained from powdered rhizome of C. longa Linn. Recent studies have demonstrated that curcumin has protective effects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, little is known about its mechanism. Disruption of the blood-brain barrier occurs after stroke. Protection of the blood-brain barrier has become an important target of stroke interventions in experimental therapeutic. The objective of the present study was to determine whether curcumin prevents cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by protecting blood-brain barrier integrity. We report that a single injection of curcumin (1 and 2 mg/kg, i.v.) 30 min after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats significantly diminished infarct volume, improved neurological deficit, decreased mortality, reduced the water content of the brain and the extravasation of Evans blue dye in ipsilateral hemisphere in a dose-dependent manner. In cultured astrocytes, curcumin significantly inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and NO(x) (Nitrites/nitrates contents) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF(alpha)). Furthermore, curcumin prevented ONOO(-) donor SIN-1-induced cerebral capillaries endothelial cells damage. We concluded that curcumin ameliorates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by preventing ONOO(-) mediated blood-brain barrier damage.

Topics: Animals; Astrocytes; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain Edema; Brain Ischemia; Capillaries; Curcuma; Curcumin; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endothelial Cells; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Neuroprotective Agents; Nitrates; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Nitrites; Peroxynitrous Acid; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reperfusion Injury; Rhizome; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Free radical induced neuronal damage is implicated in cerebral ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury and antioxidants are reported to have neuroprotective activity. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have proved the antioxidant potential of curcumin and its metabolites. Hence, in the present study the neuroprotective potential of curcumin was investigated in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) induced focal cerebral IR injury. 2 h of MCAO and 22 h of reperfusion resulted in the infarct volume of 210.39 +/- 31.25 mm3. Administration of curcumin 100 and 300 mg/kg, i.p. 30 min. after MCAO produced 37.23 +/- 5.10% and 46.39 +/- 10.23% (p < 0.05) reduction in infarct volume, respectively. Ischemia induced cerebral edema was reduced in a dose dependent manner. Curcumin at 300 mg/kg, i.p. produced 50.96 +/- 6.04% reduction in edema (p < 0.05) volume. Increase in lipid peroxidation after MCAO in ipsilateral and contralateral hemisphere of brain was observed, which was reduced by curcumin (300 mg/kg, i.p.)-treatment. Decrease in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity was observed in ipsilateral hemisphere of MCAO animal. Curcumin-treatment (300 mg/kg, i.p.) prevented IR injury mediated fall in glutathione peroxide activity. Peroxynitrite measured using rhodamine123 fluorescence and anti-nitrotyrosine immunofluorescence indicated increased peroxynitrite formation after IR insult. Curcumin-treatment reduced peroxynitrite formation and hence the extent of tyrosine nitration in the cytosolic proteins. These results suggest the neuroprotective potential of curcumin in cerebral ischemia and is mediated through its antioxidant activity.

Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Body Temperature; Brain; Brain Edema; Brain Ischemia; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Curcumin; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Glutathione Peroxidase; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Neuroprotective Agents; Peroxynitrous Acid; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Superoxide Dismutase; Tyrosine

Curcumin is a natural compound extracted from the spice tumeric, possessing both anti-inflammatory antioxidant, and anti-carcinogenic effect, is a potent stimulator of the stress-induced expression of heat shock protein 70 kd (HSP70).. To study the protective effect of pretreatment with curcumin against infectious brain edema in rats, and investigate its mechanism by assessing the free radical, cytokine and HSP70 expression of the brain.. An animal model of infectious brain edema induced by injecting pertussis bacilli (PB) through carotid artery was used. SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: (1) Normal control group (NS group, n = 9); (2) Infectious brain edema group (PB group, n = 12); (3) DMSO control group (DMSO group, n = 9); (4) HS pretreatment group (HS group, n = 9); (5) Curcumin pretreatment group (CUR group, n = 13). The water content (WC), Na(+) and K(+) content in brain tissue were measured. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and super oxide dismitase (SOD) were assessed by chemical colorimetry. The levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) were detected by ELISA. The HSP70 expression was examined by Western blot analysis.. (1) The WC and Na(+), MDA, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were increased in PB group compared with NS group (P < 0.01); they were decreased in HS and CUR groups compared with PB group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). (2) The content of SOD was decreased in PB group than in NS group (P < 0.05), and was increased in HS and CUR group Compared with PB group, (P < 0.05). (3) Western blot analysis showed that the band density areas of HS, CUR and PB groups were higher than those in NS and DMSO groups, especially in CUR group (P < 0.01).. Pretreatment with curcumin showed a protective effect against infectious brain edema in rats. The effect might be associated with antioxidant, inhibition of the activity of cytokines and inducing expression of HSP70 by curcumin.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Bacterial Infections; Blotting, Western; Brain; Brain Edema; Curcumin; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Interleukin-1; Male; Malondialdehyde; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Superoxide Dismutase; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Water